Shears.



Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

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Jan/warm UNITED srrnrns gignnr OFFICE.

. LORENZO THOMAS SLAUGHTER, OF RIGHMON D, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WAT SON M. MYERS, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

SHEAR-S.

Patented 5. 15127, 1909.

Application filed FebInaryS, 19m, Roi-114,681 Renewed March 11., I900. Berial No. 482,888.

'1 '0 all whom it may concern:

at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Shears, of which the following is a p 1 forming to the angles of the former. The

specification.

This invention relates to shears, and has for its object to provide a means by which shears may be used with equal ease by either right or left handed ersons.

It is well known tl i use with the right, can onl by great difficulty be used with the left and, and when this is successfully accomplished, the sharp edges have a tendency to tear and blister the fingers of the operator. 1

The present invention is designed to overat shears adapted for come this defect by employing a handle.

which may be readily turned, and when so adjusted becomes locked with the blade and presents an opening or grip which will conform to the outline of either the right or left fingers of the operator.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, here. inafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of the structure ma be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

in the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device when adapted for use with the right hand. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the handles turned and ready for use with the left hand. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the end of one blade showing the means for fastening to a handle. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the handles.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The blades 1. are pivoted and operate in the usual we by raising and lowering the handles .2. he section of each blade adjacent the pivot point is reduced in diameter and tapered to the end 3, from which a lug 4 projects at right angles to the blade. Each handle is preferably formed of a .si le piece of steel with the walls of the finger oles inclining awa from the blades and lying in the same p ane. This construction admits i the fingers entering their respective openings, the inclined walls of the latter conhandles are detachably secured to the blades, the latter fitting into the sleeves 6 formed on each handle. The bore of each sleeve is tapered sufiiciently to accommodate the tapered ends of the blades and ter minates in a seat 7 in which the lug 4 turns. A recess 8 is made parallel with the bore, and terminates in the seat. The function of the recess is to render the blades and handles detachable, the lug of each blade entering a handle between the walls of the recess, and when inserted sufficiently to clear the same, is turned. In this position the blades and handles are locked, the walls of the seat and sleeve retaining the parts against'lateral and longitudinal movement.

It being understood that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 and ready for use with the right hand, in order for use with the left hand the handles are given a half turn in the opposite direction, the parts now occupyin the position shown in Fig. 2. The simp e method of adjustin the handles to the use of either hand will be ound helpful to those following the outline of a pattern and the like, particular-l if the material to be cut is placed on a tab e, whence it frequently happens in such cases that the operator is forced to change his position to either side of the table in order to use his right hand. The present device will in a great measure avoid this inconvenience by adjusting the handles so that the opposite hand may be used.

I claim:-

1. In a shears adapted to the contour of the fingers of the right and left hands, a pair of handle members provided with projections each having a central bore terminating in a seat, and a pair of blade members having end portions adapted to enter said bores and provided with means for engaging the walls of said seats.

2. In a shears adapted to the contour of the fin ers of the right and left hands, and a pair 0 handle members provided with proections each having a central bore terminating in a circular seat, and a pair of blade curing the blade to the handle in adjusted members having end portions adapted to 1 position.

enter said bows and provided with lugs In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing as adapted to engage the walls of said seats. my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature 3. In a. shears adapted to the contour of in the presence of two witnesses.

the right and left fingers, a sleeve having a LORENZO MUMAS SLAUGHTER.

tapered interior terminating in a seat, a blade having a tapered section adapted to Witnesses: fit the tapered interior of the sleeve, and a LOTTIE M. SLAUGHTER,

10 lug on the end of the tapered section for se- 1 Tnos. L. l VEBSTER. 

